How to Get Cheap Flights: In-Depth Guide For Affordable Airfare


With flight prices surging back post-pandemic, budget travelers need creative strategies to keep airfare affordable for upcoming trips. By fine-tuning your search approach, timing, and techniques, substantial savings are possible if you know where to look.

This in-depth guide covers fundamental best practices along with lesser-known tricks to help you land truly cheap flights and make that next vacation or adventure financially feasible.

interiors of an airplane with blue-colored seats

Be Flexible with Travel Dates and Destinations

One of the biggest factors controlling airfare prices is your travel dates. Having the flexibility to fly on lower-demand days can yield huge savings. Typically:

  • Weekdays are cheaper than weekends for domestic flights
  • Targeting early weekday departures is more affordable than late in the workweek
  • Seasonality hugely impacts pricing – traveling off-peak is vastly cheaper

If your dates are flexible, compare airfare across an entire month’s calendar to identify the cheapest departing and return date combinations.

Also, consider destination flexibility. Search a wider region like Europe rather than one specific country to increase options. Comparison shop cities within a few hours’ train ride from your target location. Broaden your horizons as well – go where the deals are!

Master Airfare Search Engines

Specialized flight search engines scan hundreds of sites and airlines to find the best available fares. Always compare prices across search engines before booking:

Use flexible date search tools to easily view a month-wide heatmap of pricing trends to pinpoint the cheapest dates. Set price alerts through these sites if you have flexible travel time – you’ll be notified if rates drop.

Book as Early as You Comfortably Can

Last-minute trips severely restrict flight options, so book as far in advance as is practical. Airfare pricing trends:

  • The pricing “sweet spot” for domestic flights is typically 4-8 weeks before departure.
  • 11-12 weeks out can provide good sales opportunities as airlines open up schedules.
  • Within 2-3 weeks, last-minute higher rates take hold as seats fill.

If your schedule is inflexible, booking the moment a trip is solidified locks in optimum pricing. Review policies on flight changes and cancellations if plans are uncertain.

Approach Budget Airlines Cautiously

While ultra-discount airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant advertise jaw-dropping base fares, their many fees and restrictions add up quickly:

  • Extra charges for seat selection, bags, boarding passes
  • High likelihood of flight delays and cancellations
  • Extremely limited leg room uncomfortable for long flights

Always run the total projected cost with fees before assuming budget carriers offer the best deal. Read the fine print carefully and consider paying more for an airline with better service if warranted.

Sign Up for Fare Alerts

Many travel metasearch sites let you set custom price alerts for specific flights so you’re notified the moment fares drop through email or app push notifications. Monitor:

  • Google Flight price tracking
  • FareDrop alerts
  • AirfareWatchdog alerts
  • Hopper price prediction alerts
  • Kayak alerts

Act promptly when you receive an airfare alert – the seats at sale prices move quickly!

Leverage Loyalty Programs

Joining airline frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs opens access to significant savings:

  • Earn redeemable points and free flights faster through bonuses
  • Gain member-only access to exclusive discounted fares
  • Use miles to upgrade seats instead of paying cash fees
  • Qualify for cross-promotional bonuses across airline/hotel partnerships

Evaluate programs across your preferred brands and airlines to maximize loyalty benefits.

Fly on Points Through Rewards Cards

Opening travel rewards credit cards and earning large signup bonuses can unlock free flights fast:

  • Transfer points to various airline and hotel partners for maximum flexibility
  • Learn rules and tricks to pooling points for huge value
  • Target cards that provide free checked bags, lounge access and other perks
  • Strategically apply for cards from the same parent company to combine points

Just be sure to avoid cards with exorbitant annual fees and religiously pay balances off monthly.

Watch for Airline Mistake Fares

On rare occasions, airlines mistakenly offer absurdly low fares that they are forced to honor due to regulation. Be ready to capitalize when mistakes occur:

  • Pounce quickly when you see mistake deal posts on blogs
  • Follow fare error specialists like Secret Flying and Thrifty Traveler
  • Set price alerts through error tracking services like Scott’s Cheap Flights

Snagging pricing mistakes takes luck and perfect timing, but travelers do hit the jackpot now and then if persevere.

Bundle Your Flight + Hotel

Packaged trips booked through OTAs like Expedia, Priceline, and Orbitz can provide another avenue for discounts by bundling:

  • Compare total savings vs separate flight and hotel booking
  • Potentially lock in total trip cost with a package over booking individually
  • Gain the convenience of unified booking, changes, and management

Just be sure arrangements suit your needs, and any change/cancellation restrictions make sense long-term.

Consider “Basic Economy” Restricted Tickets

If able to pack very lightly, basic economy fares can offer deep discounts for minimalist travelers:

  • Allow only a small personal under-seat item
  • The charge for seat selection and early boarding
  • Board dead last with no overhead space

Traveling truly light and skipping frills avoids the headaches of rock-bottom basic economy.

Check Alternate Nearby Airports

Don’t fixate just on your destination city – expand searches to incorporate smaller regional airports within an hour or two’s driving distance:

  • Scout for deals out of alternate airports in a wider radius
  • Avoid congested major hubs prone to delays
  • Vet parking/transit options to access smaller alternate airports

You’d be surprised by the hidden savings jumping just outside a major metro can offer.

Shop End of Quarter Airline Sales

Since airlines have quarterly revenue targets, they deeply discount fares at a quarter’s end to hit goals.

  • Scan for attractive one-way fares to position for sales
  • Maintain schedule flexibility to fly odd mid-week dates
  • Book far in advance if planning travel spanning a quarter close

With flexibility, target end-of-quarter sales for serious savings.

Avoid Peak Travel Dates

It bears repeating – peak holiday travel unsurprisingly yields exorbitant airfare. Some ways to mitigate:

  • Depart the day before or after the actual holiday dates
  • Aim for off-peak seasons like flying after children return to school
  • Visit tourist destinations during their non-peak shoulder seasons

Dodging the masses allows seeing coveted locales for less.

Persevere and Stay Diligent

At the end of the day, budget travel rewards the motivated. Creative flexible booking, diligent deal monitoring, and pouncing on flash sales can reap major savings. Simply avoiding peak times goes a very long way too.

While challenging, finding affordable airfare is possible for the persistent. Follow general best practices, but stay open to improvising. With flexible thinking and dedication, cheap flights are attainable for the doggedly determined frugal flyer.


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